Saturday, December 6, 2014

It was a cold, drizzly day on December 6th, 1989
when a young man brandishing a firearm burst into a college classroom at the
Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal, Canada. The 60 or so engineering students had
little time to react before the men were ordered from the room and the gunman
began shooting the women. Six female students were killed instantly, while
three more were left injured.

The killer, 25-year old Marc Lepine was armed with a legally
obtained mini-14 rifle and hunting knife: he had earlier told a shopkeeper he
was going after “small game.” Lepine had previously been denied admission to
the Ecole Polytechnique and had been upset, it later transpired, about women
working in positions traditionally occupied by men. Before he opened fire,
Lepine shouted: “You’re all a bunch of feminists, and I hate feminists!”

The gunman then moved through the college corridors, the
cafeteria, and another classroom, specifically targeting women to shoot. By the
time Lepine turned the gun on himself, 14 women were dead and another 10 were
injured. Four men were hurt unintentionally in the crossfire.

In Canada, December 6th is a Day of Remembrance
and Action on Violence Against Women. Michele Birch-Conery, Priest and Barbara
Billey, Deacon stood in solidarity with other men and women on the campus of
the University of Windsor, Canada to protest violence against women and to
remember the tragic demise of the women killed in Montreal. As the feminist
writer Andrea Dworkin said: “It is incumbent upon each of us to be the woman
that Marc Lepine wanted to kill. We must live with this honor, this courage. We
must drive out fear. We must hold on. We must create. We must resist.”

It would take some political bravery on his part, but the ordination of women would go a long way toward showing that women aren’t just some weird, biological necessity with no other value. In fact, if Pope Francis really want to focus on economic justice, equal treatment of women and men in the Church is arguably a necessity:

The struggle over women’s ordination isn’t a culture war issue. It is a movement that shines light on the truth that the Roman Catholic church’s denial of the full equality of women has global consequences. It seeks to dismantle the poverty, abuse and violence that are intricately tied to the systematic belief that women and men are not equal.

Women’s ordination isn’t simply about making women priests. It’s about helping church leaders recognize that if they were to include women in their leadership as their equals, they could truly be a powerful force for economic and social justice for women and children throughout our world.

Second, Pope Francis could signal that it’s OK to ease up on shaming women for using contraception. If a theme to his papacy is mercy, then this seems like a no-brainer. Not only is access to contraception good economically – which could help raise people out of poverty — it also decreases the abortion rate by preventing unwanted pregnancies to begin with.

Friday, December 5, 2014

My
dear sisters and brothers....Oh how my heart aches today.... yearning to
find words to express itself,and so I share these with you. In today's
reading from Isaiah, this is written: "He lays (the lofty city) low to the
ground, casts it to the dust. The foot tramples it,the feet of
the poor,the steps of the needy" (26:5-6).

I heard those footsteps
last night, the footsteps of protesters who marched down Broadway,
chanting, "I can't breathe; I can't breathe," as they bemoaned the
brokenness of our system, a system that allows unarmed Black
men,especially, to be killed by those ordered to protect, with
no accountability. There I sat, along with the thousands of others in
the apartments surrounding mine, safe and secure, unaffected - we assume -
by that broken system.Oh, we know it's wrong - and some of us even
understand why "they" are soupset, but yet, but yet.... "we" are
safe.

Today's Gospel might reveal how blind we are. From a selection
taken from Matthew 7:21, 24-27, these were the words not included: "Not
everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many
will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out
demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?' Then I will
declare tothem, 'I never knew you; go away from me, you
evildoers.&#39;"

And what is that will of our beloved Creator?
It seems that many in our midst do not know it.... And so I am
reminded yet again how important our mission is.... and those of our
sisters and brothers around us who also know, really know,
our Beloved's will. Last night at Riverside Church as we ended our
prayer service,while holding candles and each others' hands we sang these
words:"I pray for you; you pray for me. I love you; I need you to
survive." Yes, we need all to survive.... but this I will add: we need all
to thriveas well for only then will God's beauty in all truly shine
forth...Gratitude wells in me as I know once again that I am in the midst
of people called to break through the oppression so many of us face in so
many verydifferent ways....

Zainah Anwar, a Muslim activist said " God cannot be God if God is unjust... If we are equal in the eyes of God, how come we are not equal in the eyes of man." Sister Simone Campbell stressed that we must hear from women's lived experiences if we are to engage as equals in the world.

Thursday, December 4, 2014

There is something about advent that quiets us down in our spirits and helps us to reflect on the essential meanings of the coming of Christ. Florida is known for its long and bright days even in winter. But still the darkness comes earlier and evening is longer than we like. Activities stop earlier and there is time to think and reflect on the beautiful prophetic readings about the long awaited messiah, Deliverance, Emanuel,God With Us. The reading from Isaiah 40:1-5,9-11 is particularly moving to me. The early verses in this Scripture herald John the Baptist who is the voice, the thundering voice, in the wilderness making straight the way of our God. The Gospel,Mark 1:1-8 has John thundering his message to the people. Turn yourselves around, turn back from your way to God’s way, to loving God with all your being and your neighbor as yourself, turn back to a life of justice and peace. Turn back to Love. The last time I preached on this text I dropped a huge book on the floor with a great clamor. Speak up, speak up with God’s message! This is not a time to mumble! The best news is coming, announce it. God’s love and justice has been born among us and we will learn to live love and justice as we follow the way of Christ.

Isaiah 40:11 speaks to our congregation growing from the bottom up, full of children, mothers, youth and new Christians. On Sunday we had 21 children with us, including six that have been coming for just a few times. “Like a shepherd you feed your flock,gathering the lambs and holding them close,and leading mother ewes with gentleness.” The same strong and gentle God who holds the little lambs close, the God with Mother/Father arms to embrace,protect and comfort, sends his own Beloved child as a helpless baby to be cared for and loved. With this same God love and faithfulness will meet and justice and peace kiss each other and embrace(Psalm 85:10). And God will help us when we just cannot get this right. I think of the mothers in my flock who carry the heavy load alone, sometimes near breaking. I think of those who have been beaten,used and exploited in the name of “love”. I think of the children who do not have what they need to grow materially, physically,intellectually, emotionally and spiritually. I think of the children being raised by other relatives and foster parents who have lost both parents to drugs, alcohol, violence death and illness. I think of those living with those types of caregivers here and now in our midst. Then I think of the one parent who faithfully rounds up all of the children in her neighborhood to bring them to church. We will hold them close and treat the ewes with tenderness. But it will take more than us to turn this around. I am sickened by the violence all around them. Our little nine year old who lost his five year old cousin to a drive by shooting a few weeks ago now has a husky eleven year old telling him “watch your back, I’m going to get you”. And that happened right after church so I could intervene. But it will take God to keep him safe and to bring justice and peace to his world.

And so my heart resounds with Rev. Chava’s reflection on her little flock. She is so right that the number in the flock is immaterial, God is there for each one, carrying each in God’s ample arms. And sometimes God’s arms are our own tired limbs. Sometimes they help someone change out of soiled clothes, and sometimes they help people step out of soiled lives and take on new life. Rev. Chava’s love holds them close and her passion for justice never tires, although I know she does. I sometimes join her in wondering “shall we continue?” “Are we doing enough”? And even CAN we continue? This shepherding is hard work! And justice is so far off. I rejoiced with Rev. Chava as her young man from Mexico was granted his wish of a Voluntary Departure in a speedy way as someone spoke for him-and was heard, miracle of miracles. Someone representing justice. I was glad in an immigration system where there is little justice that some little justice did happen. I was glad last week when President Obama made some definite beginning steps in repairing that broken system and can only pray that partisanship can finally be put aside to serve the needs of all concerned for we need the labor as much as the workers need the work and the recognition of their families. Perhaps that is a “Hail Mary” but we can pray for it.

As we face the coming of the Christ-child, let us hold all children close and work and pray for justice.

Happy Advent! May the peace and stillness of this waiting time fill yoursoul, and balance the sometimes frantic energy of the weeks that lead up toChristmas.

We had a lovely Advent Mass at St Romero’s this morning, with a surprisevisit from Ann and Nancy who visit about once a year from Penn Yan. BobMcBride is almost always present these days. He’s the member of the StJoe’s community with responsibility for our overnight shelter. Anotherwoman came in as well. It’s usually like that – Bob, and one or two peoplewho come once or twice. Last week there was a man who is part of theSanctuary Village under the bridge, and Carol who is one of our regulars.

Every now and then I ask God if it’s time to stop the Sunday Mass. In thepast, any time I asked that question a dozen or so people would show up forMass. For us, that’s a crowd! Lately the answer to that question has notbeen numbers, but a deepened appreciation for what we offer in this simpleMass. There are some people who come back over and over, for whom I thinkour Mass is a place where they are known and loved, no matter how long theyhave been away. There are others who come once and are never seen again,but the moment when they were here was a blessing. I’m thinking of a timewhen it was just one man from the street, and me. His faith was so deep!After communion he asked if he could sing something, and made up a song on the spot about what a blessing it was to be worshipping together.

We have tossed around the idea of looking for another place for Mass onSunday mornings. Some folks who live at St Joe’s have said they would come if it didn’t feel so much like work – and that’s a reasonable thing forthem to say, because in fact Sunday mornings can turn into a sort of extrahospitality time. We try not to do that but sometimes there’s an emergency,like the Sunday a woman came in who had soiled her trousers and neededsanitary supplies. Most of the Mass time was devoted to taking care of her,and I was awfully glad we were there to do it. Then she and I had a lovelyMass together.

I don’t think numbers are important to God. God loves us one person at atime, and I think it’s enough when we do the same.

In the migrant ministry it was an interesting week, as I accompanied oneyoung man to court. Ironically, he wants to go back to Mexico – he has beenhere ten years and misses his family. A year ago he wanted to go back, buthis court date got postponed for a year. So he found a job in a dairy farmand has been working. Finally his court date came around. He quit his joband moved in with his aunt, making plans to go to Mexico a few days afterhis court appearance. He was hoping for Voluntary Departure, in which onepays one’s own way out of the country, and has no deportation history toprevent coming back at some later time. Either way, he knew he was goingback, and he’s ready!

So we went to court. His lawyer, Richard Link, told the judge he wantedVoluntary Departure. The judge checked with the government attorney, whosaid there was no obvious bar to his being granted that. “Okay,” the judgesaid. “We’ll schedule him for a hearing. Next available date is in April2016.”

My heart sank! Richard said, “Ah, your honor? He was hoping to go back toMexico this weekend!” And to the judge’s credit, he found a way to schedulethe hearing that very afternoon. Richard and I made phone calls andrearranged our days, and the three of us went to lunch and then returnedfor the hearing. Our young friend was put in the witness box. “Have youever been arrested?” the judge asked him. “No.” “Have you ever doneanything for which you could have been arrested?” again, no. Actually, thisyoung man is the sort of person we ought to be begging to stay! But he wasgranted Voluntary Departure, and should be able to get his bond money back,as well.

I tried to explain the meaning of the word “irony” but couldn’t do it. Thenext day, he and his aunt and uncle came over to my house for Thanksgivingdinner, and we said goodbye. If all goes well, he will be back with hisfamily by Christmas. Please pray for him as he journeys home.

Much peace to you this Advent. You are always welcome at Sunday morningMass!

Love to allChava

Oscar Romero ChurchAn Inclusive Community of Liberation, Justice and JoyWorshiping in the Catholic TraditionMass: Sundays, 11 amSt Joseph’s House of Hospitality, 402 South Ave, Rochester NY 14620A member community of the Federation of Christian Ministries

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Bridget Mary's Response: This is a gross violation of human rights. We need to do everything possible to get Congress to close this horrific prison. It is a scandal to our country. Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP, www.arcwp.org

"Reports are mounting of a living nightmare in Lumpkin, Georgia, at Stewart, a 1,750-bed detention facility housing immigrants facing potential deportation. According to multiple interviews with detained immigrants at Stewart, they are dealing with maggots in food, improper medical care, sweltering temperatures, and in many cases no communication with staff due to no translators on site. The Corrections Corporation of America operates the facility for profit, adding fuel to an already roaring fire of opposition. ...

Advent Prayerby Jay Murnane (Jay, who is now deceased, was the spouse of Mary Theresa Streck, ARCWP and a priest in the Diocese of Albany.)

Living One, you are
continually creating the universe,continually giving birth
to all of us.We sense the need to do
the same,to set ourselves free
from a sense of emptiness and barren hopelessness.

The signs of our times
are frighteningand often we hear only
the confusing sounds of Babel -all the lies and the
anguished criesof a wounded earth and
its wounded creatures.

Your wisdom invites us to
draw on our tradition,as old as the
stars,shining through Sarah and
Abraham,shining through your
prophets in every age and every culture,,shining throughMiriam of
Nazareth.If we can blend that
enlightening, enlivening traditionwith what we
are,we can risk fidelity to a
dream:

Filled with your spirit,
we can give birth in our dayto your living
word,for the sake of
hopeenfleshed increativity and
confrontation,healing and
reconciliation,justice,universal and
unconditional love.

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

About a dozen people from the Sarasota area gathered today for a Memorial Vigil at Jean Donovan's gravesite.

Jean was a missionary and martyr for justice who worked with Dorothy Kazel distributing food for the poor and the refugees and carrying out family education programs."Two weeks before she was murdered, with the bloodbath already begun, she wrote to a friend in Connecticut: "Several times I have decided to leave El Salvador. I almost could except for the children, the poor bruised victims of this insanity. Who would care for them? Whose heart would be so staunch as to favor the reasonable thing in a sea of their tears and helplessness? Not mine, dear friend, not mine." The destinies of Maura Clarke, Ita Ford, Dorothy Kazel and Jean Donovan were joined together in just the last months of their lives. Murdered together by National Guardsmen in El Salvador on Decemer 2, 1980, their deaths became martyrdom for a church of the poor in El Salvador and for thousands of Christians in the United States. Their deaths are understood as martyrdom because the women did what Jesus of Nazareth did, and what he told us we should do to show we are disciples in this world- they loved the poor, and laid down their lives for them. In this way, they became friends of Jesus."All: May they rest in peace, may she rest in peace; may the martyrs reign on high!

...."It was in 1976 the Pontifical Biblical Commission released a study examining the exclusion of women from the ministerial priesthood from a biblical perspective, stating: "It does not seem that the New Testament by itself alone will permit us to settle in a clear way and once and for all the problem of the possible accession of women to the presbyterate."

When presented, the few arguments for the ordination ban seem unconvincing to many, resting mainly on past precedents and adverting to vague ideas about gender imagery and complementarity that imply women and men must have different vocations for service in the church. Services that involve total inclusion of authority and total exclusion of authority. This has given us a distinctly two-tier church.

Meanwhile, appeals to constant teaching continue to fall flat. The church has changed its "definitive teachings" repeatedly -- in regard, for example, to liberty of conscience, Jews, the Crusades, slavery, usury and torture, to name a few.

The road to an inclusive church, one in which all are equal, all are blessed, all are called, will not come easily. O'Malley has again affirmed this reality. But distinctions that set people apart, into classes of greater and lesser authority and power, cannot last, cannot withstand increased access by laity, including women, to education, particularly theological education. In the end, the ban will fall because it misreads the teachings of Jesus. "

Presider: Nurturing God, you
became human in Jesus and showed us how to live life fully. You know what it
means to laugh and cry, to walk and talk, to love and be loved. We know that
your mothering presence is always with us. May we, like Mary, rejoice as we
give birth to God within us, and may we give birth to God in everything we say
and do. ALL: Amen.

ALL: Glory to God in the highest, and peace to
God’s people on earth. O loving God, we
worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. O Jesus Christ, holy Child of our loving God;
You fill us with
joy in your presence. You who are
with our God, receive our prayer. For
you alone are the Holy One; you alone are Messiah. You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ;
with the Holy Spirit in the glory of God.
Amen.

LITURGY
OF THE WORD

First Reading:

Second Reading:

Gospel
Acclamation: ALLELUIA! (sung)

Gospel:

Reader:
A reading from the Gospel according to ...
ALL: Glory to you O God.

Reader: The good news of Jesus, the Christ!

ALL: Glory and praise to you, Jesus the Christ!

Dialogue HOMILY

Profession of
Faith: ALL: We believe in God who is creator and nurturer
of all. We believe in Jesus, the Christ, who is our love, our hope, and our
light. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the breath of Wisdom Sophia, who
energizes and guides us to build caring communities and to challenge
injustices. We believe in the communion
of saints our heavenly friends, who support us on life’s journey. We believe in the partnership and equality of
women and men in our church and world.
We believe that all are one in the community of creation. We believe that God who calls us to live
fully, love tenderly, and serve generously.
Amen.

GENERAL
INTERCESSIONS

Presider: For a deeper coming of Christ in our world, let
us pray.

Response: Nurturing God, hear us.

Presider: That we may experience the coming of
God anew in our lives, we pray. R. Presider:
That people who suffer from destitution and despair may experience the
mothering comfort of God we pray. R.

Presider: That the sick and suffering may receive the
nurturing, healing love of God, we pray.
R. Presider:
That those who have died may rest in God's eternal embrace,
we pray. R.

(Other Intentions)

PREPARATION
OF THE GIFTS

Presider: Blessed are you, God of all life, through
your goodness we have bread, wine, all creation, and our own lives to offer.
Through this sacred meal may we become your new creation.

ALL: Blessed be God forever.

Presider: God is with
you. ALL: And also with you. Presider: Lift up your hearts. ALL: We lift them up to God. Presider: Let us give thanks to our God.

EUCHARISTIC
PRAYER

Voice One: Mothering God, you
brought forth all creation from your Life-Giving Womb. O Love of the Ages, we
praise you and leap for joy in your presence.

Voice Two:Holy One of ancient Israel, you revealed
yourself in Mary's womb, in a shining star, in humble shepherds, in a baby
wrapped in swaddling clothes. You embrace us with infinite love in every
situation and relationship. You dwell in the depths of our hearts.

Voice Three:We invite you this day todeepen our awareness of your boundless love as we gather
around the table of abundant life. With grateful hearts, we
proclaim your praise:

ALL: Holy, Holy, Holy, Creator of heaven and earth. All beings are pregnant with your glory.
Hosanna in the Highest. Blessed are you who dwell in all things. Hosanna in the Highest.

Voice Four: Praise to
you, all-giving God, born of Mary. You are the body and blood of woman. We glorify
you, nurturing God for the dawning of the sacred promise of God's Anointed,
fulfilled in Jesus, the Christ.

Voice Five:We celebrate the birth of Jesus, our
newborn Emmanuel , who came to
give us the fullness of life. During this holy season
we share the bread of freedom and lift the cup of salvation.

(raise hands toward bread and wine for Invocation of the Holy Spirit)

All: Come Holy Spirit deepen your Presence
within us and in these gifts of bread and wine, that they may become the Body of
Christ.

Presider: As Jesus gave birth to the New Covenant, he
took bread, gave thanks, broke the bread, and shared it with all those present
saying:

ALL: Take this all
of you and eat it. This is my body.

Presider: Then Jesus took a
cup of wine, blessed you, Loving God,
shared the cup with all those present saying:

ALL: Take this all
of you and drink from the covenant, poured out for you and for everyone. Do this in memory of
me.

Presider: Let us proclaim the sacred presence of our
nurturing God:

ALL: Christ, by your
life, death and rising, you have blessed us with abundance that
will never end.

Second
Invocation of the Holy Spirit:(Place hands on
each other's shoulder)

All:God of all people, You call us "beloved." Give us courage to accept your faith in us and to
live your compassion in the world. You infuse us with Sophia, Holy Wisdom, to serve you in the last and
the least.

Voice Six:
As we wait with joyful hearts for the fulfillment of your loving presence in our lives, we remember the prophet,martyrs and saints who have gone before us: Deborah, Isaiah,
Mary of Magdala, Peter, Martha, Bishop Oscar Romero, Ita Ford, Maura Clark, Jean Donovan and all those we remember as heros and
heroines in our church who inspire us today. (Community names mentors whom they want to
remember, living and dead. This list is only partial. Each community needs to
create their own according to custom and culture.)

Voice Seven:God of our dreams, may we give birth to
the Word Made Flesh in us everyday. May we give
birth to the church of our dreams and hopes. May we give birth to a deep
reverence for earth and live in harmony with all creatures on
the earth.

ALL: Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, all
praise and glory are yours, Holy God, through the
power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

THE
PRAYER OF JESUS

ALL: Our Father and Mother ...

THE SIGN OF PEACE

Presider: Let us join hands and
hearts and pray for peace in our world as we sing “Peace is flowing like a River”,
love, joy, alleluia…., or other suitable hymn

LITANY FOR THE
BREAKING OF BREAD

ALL: Loving God, You call us to speak truth to
power. We will do so. Loving
God, You call us to live the Gospel of peace and justice. We will do so. Loving God, You call us to be Your presence in
the world. We will do so.

Presider: This is Jesus, Emmanuel,
God with us, loving us forever. All are invited to partake of this sacred
banquet of love. ALL: May we be who we are the Body of Christ.

Presider: Let us share the Body of Christ with the Body
of Christ! ALL: Amen.

COMMUNION

Sing a favorite
Advent or Christmas song such as "Silent Night" or "Away in the
Manger" etc.

PRAYER
AFTER COMMUNION

Presider: God of new
beginnings,
thank you for nourishing us in your sacrament. May your tender
presence continue to open our hearts to the daily miracles of life that
surround us each day, through Emmanuel, God-with-us.

ALL: Amen.

CONCLUDING
RITE

Presider: Our God is with you.

ALL: and also with you.

BLESSING

(everyone please
extend your hands in mutual blessing)

ALL: May our loving God fill us
with radiant joy. May our liberating God fill us
with deep peace, and may our compassionate
God bless us always with strength to serve the broken and excluded.Amen.

DISMISSAL

Presider: Let us birth Christ anew in our world today. Go
in the peace of Christ. ALL:
Thanks be to God.

Sunday, November 30, 2014

It is a cartoon by Martin Espramer,OSB, of a young woman sitting in a chair asleep with something like a broom leaning on a wall behind her and an angry bald headed man standing over her. I don’t quite get the scene, is it a girl and a teacher, a cleaning woman and a boss, a father and a daughter? I am not sure and I am not inclined to accept the angry looking man as a God-figure-or the view that God is angry at our shortcomings. But I am sure that I do fall asleep on the job. I am sure that I do too much and reflect too little. I am sure that I am not often true to my nature anymore because I rarely take time to be quiet, to experience, to think, pray, and ponder, appreciate, and write poetry. I am such a complex combination of needing to work actively for the kin-dom and live the social justice teachings of Christ and the church as in our Matthew 25 readings of last week, and needing to stop and be quiet and share the inspirations of the Holy Spirit in words and poems. With that dual focus balance is needed and I have lost it for the time being. I am running (away) too much, as Janda suggests and as the prophet Isaiah (63:17) suggests when he says we are wandering far from God. I can identify with Isaiah’s feeling that even our good deeds are polluted and we have all withered like leaves (Isaiah 64:6). I know when I am “off balance” because I get grumpy and angry and exhausted. I feel very much like a withered leaf. I have often said that it is God’s creation, particularly the life abundant at my little lake that grounds me. And yet, there are days when I do not spare even the few minutes it takes to step outside and feed the ducks, ibis, fish and turtles and appreciate the deep beauty and meaning of those moments-the “Thank you, God!” and restoration that those moments bring. There are times when I let that which means the most to me become just one more chore. But, whenever I make even the slightest effort I am rewarded with peace and joy and awe of that God who restores us (Psalm 80) and strengthens us (I Cor 3:9) and is, as Isaiah says, our Mother/Father and the potter who shapes and molds us with care and love.

So, I appreciate Advent when we are to stop a while and open our eyes to what is around us and really see it, as if for the first time. That is what alertness and being watchful means to me. Not to wait for something or someone to come, but to open my eyes and see who is already here and what is surrounding me. To really see and experience the moment. The beautiful spiritual poet J. Janda captures this need to watch, and see. (This is from the St. Louis website, under Spirituality of the Readings ontextweek.com)